Shima Peninsula to Nara

Michael takes a luxury, panoramic Shimikaze train to the beautiful Shima peninsula. It transports visitors to Ise Jingu, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, and is also renowned renowned for its stunning coastline. Michael takes a trip to Ago Bay, where over 60 small islands sit just off the coast in the shimmering Pacific Ocean.

The next stop is Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, a beautiful, tranquil city where some 1,400 sika deer roam the green open spaces. Michael visits the magnificent Buddhist Todaiji Temple and is astonished to find one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world, towering at a height of 15 metres.

Michael’s last stop in Nara is at a traditional sumi stick workshop. Made from soot, gelatine and perfume, these blocks of ink are used for Japanese calligraphy.